Extraordinary Rise: Starting Contract with the Silver Dragon Countess

The atmosphere inside the Rock Core Hall was even more turbulent, more frenzied, and more reckless than before!
Chief Heisenberg sat upright in the main seat, his face still composed, calmly observing the scene before him, which was filled with anger and nearly out of control.

Hearing the roars of "Fight them!" and "Let's fight!", and feeling the burning anger and resentment of the elders like a volcanic eruption, a strange emotion surged deep in their eyes.

There are some things he can't say.

There are some truths he cannot share with anyone present.

As the chief of the Noble Council, he not only controls the vast power of the empire on the surface, but also possesses secret channels and sources of information in the divine realm, a place that mortals cannot reach, which are unimaginable to ordinary people.

He knew better than anyone that this continent, and indeed the entire multiverse, was about to face an unprecedented catastrophe that would sweep across all the heavens and myriad worlds.

A terrifying storm, known by the gods as the "War of Nations" or the "End of the Era," is about to sweep across the land.

In this storm, even a powerful central empire could be like a lone boat on a raging sea, capsizing at any moment.

Therefore, the most important thing is not the temporary gain or loss of territory, nor the immediate battle of wits, but the right to survive.

In this catastrophe, only a very few forces were able to obtain the "ticket" to the new era.

This "ticket" represents the possibility of continuing the flame of civilization amidst the collapse of order and the chaos of war among the gods.

The Central Empire must obtain this ticket.

And most importantly, the Divine Realm has never been a monolithic entity.

Even among gods of the same faction, countless factions exist, constantly vying for faith and power.

As the true cornerstone of the empire, the House of Nobles must occupy a decisive position in this ticket.

This is the most important matter concerning the future of billions of lives in the empire and the continuation of the noble academy's millennia-long legacy.

Therefore, the power of the House of Nobles must not be exposed too early, nor should it be diminished through pointless internal strife.

Otherwise, once a catastrophe strikes, the House of Nobles will inevitably become the target of covetousness and attacks from all sides, which would be the real catastrophe.

He understood how the people in front of him felt.

Like him, they were among the core crew members of the House of Nobles, a colossal ship.

They were used to controlling the empire, used to being high above others, and used to regarding the Holy Radiance Academy as an inviolable sacred ground.

How could they bow down to an empress who was only in her twenties and looked like a "doll" in their eyes, and hand over the academy?

This is tantamount to etching the deepest mark of shame onto their millennia-old pride.

Arthur's grief and anger, and the roars of the crowd, all stemmed from this.

They would rather die a glorious death in battle than compromise in a cowardly manner.

Heisenberg also felt this same burning flame of pride.

He wanted to protect the Holy Radiance Academy more than anyone else; it was the starting point of his power and the cradle of his beliefs.

How he longed to raise his arms and lead the behemoth that is the House of Nobles to crush all obstacles and let Her Majesty the Empress know who is the true ruler of the empire.
But he can't!
He carried not only the weight of temporary honor and disgrace, but also the hope for the continued existence of the entire House of Nobles.

He had to look to the distant future, he had to be patient, he had to compromise.

One must act like a true chess player, willing to sacrifice even the most precious pieces, such as the Holy Radiance Academy, for the ultimate victory.

Heisenberg coughed lightly, his voice instantly piercing through all the noise and roars, plunging the entire Rockheart Hall back into a chilling silence.

He spoke slowly, his voice not loud, but carrying an undeniable determination:
“I understand what you all mean. I feel your humiliation, anger, and determination to protect your foundation.”

He paused briefly to calm everyone down, then abruptly changed the subject, his tone becoming extremely serious:

"However, now is not the time for us to reveal all our cards and show all our fangs."

You all probably have a premonition of the dramatic changes that will take place on the mainland.

That would be a colossal wave that far surpasses the empire's borders and affects all the heavens and myriad worlds.

Faced with that storm, the Empire itself was like a lone boat on a raging sea. We, the House of Nobles, as the backbone of the Empire, must preserve our strength, accumulate power, and await the crucial moment that will truly determine our fate.

His voice suddenly rose, carrying an undeniable air of authority:
"Therefore, in this matter concerning the Holy Radiance Academy, this time, I, Heisenberg Wertheimer, will be the one to exercise absolute power!"

One act of despotism!
These four words resounded like thunder in the quiet Yanxin Hall.

Arthur Nicholson could no longer sit still. He abruptly stood up, his voice trembling slightly with shock and confusion:
"gentlemen!
"You...you really intend to hand over the Holy Radiance Academy?"

His eyes were filled with unbelievable despair and a hint of betrayal.

If the chief really decides to give in, wouldn't summoning them here be like reading an obituary before a "funeral" at the Holy Radiance Academy?

This is even more unacceptable than outright failure.

Heisenberg's gaze met Arthur's, and also met all the gazes that shared the same question:
"Of course you have to pay."

However, how to pay it is up to our House of Nobles to decide!

The others suddenly realized, "That's right, the agreement only says to hand over control of the Holy Radiance Academy, but how will it be transferred?"

There's so much room for maneuver here!

Heisenberg's intention was not a simple admission of defeat, but rather a sophisticated power swap disguised as submission.

The "fat piece of meat" that was Shenghui Academy was "transferred" in a way that seemed to be taken away, but in reality it was still firmly controlled by the House of Nobles!
They understood that the chief was not showing weakness or compromising, but was playing a much bigger game.

It is using temporary concessions to gain greater initiative in the future. The Holy Radiance Academy will never truly break free from the control of the Noble Academy!
Although it might look bad on the surface and even attract criticism from home and abroad, as long as one can still secretly control the Holy Radiance Academy, so be it.

The crowd's expressions softened slightly, and their gazes became fixed intently on Heisenberg.

Heisenberg said slowly:
"The agreement at the time stated that if the Noble Martial Arts Festival could not be won, the Noble Academy would have to transfer control of the Holy Radiance Academy to the Klein royal family."

He paused deliberately, allowing everyone to ponder the meaning of his words:
"Please note that the agreement states—it is to be transferred to the Klein royal family. Not... to Her Majesty the Empress herself!"

Arthur's eyes lit up, and he murmured:
"Does the gentleman mean we can use the Klein royal family identity as leverage?"

Heisenberg nodded slowly:
“I have decided to recommend Prince Wilson Klein to serve as the new headmaster of St. Radiance Academy.”

Prince Wilson!
Upon hearing this name, a look of solemnity appeared in everyone's eyes.

Wilson Klein!

This name is familiar to all the key figures present.

He is the uncle of the current Empress Shanes Klein, and a pure-blooded prince of the Klein royal family.

However, his social status stands in stark irony in contrast to his noble lineage.

Wilson currently holds only a nominal position as "military intelligence officer" within the Imperial Military Department.

This position, though it sounds like it involves military secrets, actually has no real power. It can even be said to be dispensable in the Ministry of Military Affairs, a "cold bench" specifically used to place idle personnel.

Logically, as the Empress's uncle, Prince Wilson should have been an important figure in the inner circle of the royal power, enjoying honor and wielding great power.

However, the opposite is true.

The reason is simple: Prince Wilson Klein was one of Empress Shanes Klein's most resolute and central opponents during her accession to the throne.

He was also a staunch supporter of those "good brothers" (i.e., the brothers who did not recognize the late emperor's edict and wanted to usurp the throne) who were expelled by Her Majesty the Empress.

After Shanis successfully ascended to the throne, she originally planned to banish Wilson and her several "good brothers" to the most turbulent "Return Zone" for imprisonment.

Because of the strong support of Prince Heinz Klein, who held great prestige in the military at the time and had a past relationship with Wilson, no action was taken.

Although Wilson survived and retained his title of prince, he was completely stripped of all real power.

He was confined to Constantinople like a prisoner, and thanks to Prince Heinz's influence, he held a nominal position in the Ministry of Military Affairs, making him virtually invisible.

What's more important is——

Prince Wilson was one of the core members of the old royal family whom the House of Nobles had been secretly supporting and colluding with for many years.

The House of Nobles, through clandestine channels, provided him with a life of luxury far exceeding his nominal salary, as well as political protection to prevent the Empress from seeking revenge later. They even secretly supported him in contacting his old subordinates and accumulating power.

The purpose was to plant a pawn within the royal family that could be detonated at any time, a nail that could shake the foundations of the empress's rule at a crucial moment.

Heisenberg's intention in recommending Prince Wilson to serve as the principal of St. Glory Academy at this moment is quite obvious.

Chief Heisenberg's voice continued to echo in the Heart of Rock Hall:
"If Prince Wilson were to take charge of the Holy Radiance Academy, Her Majesty the Empress would surely be furious and might even intervene directly."

However, it wouldn't be so easy for His Majesty to directly veto Prince Wilson's qualifications.

Because the military will speak up for us!
If he didn't see any hope, so be it; but if he saw any hope of controlling the Holy Radiance Academy, that old warlord Heinz would never back down.

He will definitely argue with His Majesty. His Majesty cannot afford to offend both the House of Nobles and the military at the same time, therefore she can only acquiesce to this fact!

Upon hearing this, someone immediately frowned and asked with a hint of doubt:
"My lord, isn't this arrangement tantamount to indirectly handing over control of the Holy Radiance Academy to the military?"
Prince Wilson is currently on secondment to the Ministry of Military Affairs, and he has a close relationship with Prince Heinz, this…”

His concerns are justified.

Prince Wilson is only alive today thanks to the protection of Prince Heinz Klein, the Minister of War.

Prince Heinz would certainly welcome Wilson's ascension to the throne, and might even use this opportunity to infiltrate his influence into the Holy Light Academy. Wouldn't that leave the House of Nobles with the Empress at the front door and the military at the back?

Heisenberg showed no sign of worry, but rather a mysterious smile.

He did not answer directly, but slowly raised his hand and pointed to Count Casimir August, who was sitting slightly behind the intelligence agency's director, Manfred Ott, and had remained silent:

"Gentlemen, Prince Wilson is merely a 'flag' that we display on the surface."

The one who truly controls the academy and ensures that it continues to flow with the blood of the noble academy will be our intelligence agency's vice-director, Count Casimir August!

Amidst the astonished gazes of the crowd, Heisenberg clearly stated:

"A few days later, Count August will receive a transfer order—he will be transferred to work in the Imperial Military Affairs Department."

Subsequently, at the Ministry of Military Affairs, the Earl would 'coincidentally' be noticed by Prince Wilson, who had just taken office as the principal of St. Radiant Academy and was in dire need of a capable assistant.

The Prince will personally appoint Count Kazimir as his chief assistant and bring him to the Holy Radiance Academy.

A brief silence fell over the Rock Heart Hall, followed by an outpouring of uncontrollable admiration.

Sending Kazimierz to the Holy Light Academy would be the perfect choice.

First of all, Casimir August was an active-duty officer, so his transfer to the Ministry of Military Affairs was perfectly legitimate.

The military, especially Prince Heinz, would not object; in fact, they might even welcome it, seeing it as an opportunity for military influence to infiltrate the academy.

Secondly, Kazimir is exceptionally capable. Although he lost to Cohen in the Silver Division, his strength and tactical skills were unanimously recognized by the Empire's high command.

His rapid promotion within the intelligence agency also proves that he is capable of handling such an important position.

Most importantly, in Prince Wilson's eyes, Casimir was a young officer transferred from the Ministry of Military Affairs, one of his own, and a capable person.

He would never have imagined that his capable assistant was actually the deputy head of the intelligence agency, a core member of the House of Nobles with absolute loyalty, and the highest-ranking mole planted by the House of Nobles in his inner circle.

The brilliance of this move lies in making it perfectly logical and seamless for Prince Wilson to "choose" Kazimir as a military officer.

Even if Her Majesty the Empress had suspicions, it would be difficult for her to find direct evidence to prove that the House of Nobles was manipulating all of this.

Kazimir relied on his position as the vice president of the intelligence agency, his outstanding abilities, and the network that the House of Nobles had cultivated within the academy for many years.

They were fully capable of sidelining the nominal Prince Wilson and ensuring that the Academy's personnel arrangements, resource allocation, and core secrets remained firmly in the hands of the House of Lords.

Kazimir's military background would further reassure Prince Heinz and the military faction he represents.

This is seen as a manifestation of the military's influence within the academy, thereby reducing Prince Wilson's direct intervention in Kazimir and potentially even providing him with some support.

This inadvertently provided a protective shield for Kazimir's activities.

Arthur Nicholson couldn't help but exclaim in admiration, his eyes filled with respect for Heisenberg:

"In this way, Prince Wilson is the principal, while our Earl August is the actual leader."

While nominally the control of the academy was handed over to the Klein royal family, its actual operation remained in the hands of our House of Nobles.

The military will only think of Kazimir as one of their own, which is a stroke of genius!

"Count Augustus!"

Heisenberg looked at Casimir with deep trust and a heavy sense of entrustment:

"You have a heavy burden on your shoulders."

The future of Holy Radiance Academy and the foundation of the Noble Academy rest on your shoulders.

You need to play the role of a loyal and capable assistant to Prince Wilson, while keeping a low profile and controlling the overall situation.

Can you do it?

Casimir August slowly stood up, his posture as upright as a javelin.

He bowed slightly, his voice steady and powerful:
"Rest assured, sir, the August family has been loyal to the House of Nobles for generations, and Casimir August will certainly live up to your expectations."

The Holy Radiance Academy will forever remain the Holy Radiance Academy of the Noble Academy!

It was not a spur-of-the-moment decision to have Casimir Auguste, as a military officer, "choose" him from Prince Wilson and subsequently become the de facto ruler of the Holy Radiance Academy.

In fact, Heisenberg had already repeatedly rehearsed and conspired with Casimir himself on this game of chess.

Prior to the meeting in the Rock Core Hall, Heisenberg, Manfred, and Casimir had already communicated several times.

Heisenberg has clearly analyzed the entire plan's outline, risks, and the key role Casimir needs to play.

With his characteristic calmness, keen insight, and outstanding execution, Casimir not only fully understood Heisenberg's intentions but also offered numerous suggestions for improving the details.

His meticulous thinking and talent for intelligence work greatly pleased Heisenberg and Manfred, further convincing them that he was the only choice to carry out this top-secret mission.

However, Heisenberg could never have imagined that this young talent, whom he regarded as his future successor and carefully nurtured, would report the core content of each meeting to his mortal enemy, King Cohen Corleone of Effie, after every secret meeting.

In fact, many of the improvement details and suggestions that Casimir put forward were told to him by Cohen.

When Cohen first learned of Heisenberg's "brilliant plan" from Casimir, he was quite surprised.

He truly hadn't expected Heisenberg to be planning to place his top agent within the military.

In this way, he could not only take actual control of the Holy Radiance Academy, but also observe the military's movements.

Heisenberg really played a "good game".

Even if the top scholar of the noble academy racked his brains, he could never have imagined that the young talent he had carefully nurtured and intended to succeed him would be forced by a powerful deity to submit to his mortal enemy.

The atmosphere in the Heart of Rock Hall eased considerably after Kazimierz took his oath.

At this moment, the elders of the House of Nobles in Rockheart Hall finally understood why Chief Heisenberg had to formally introduce Count Casimir August into the core decision-making circle of Rockheart Hall and publicly reveal his identity as the deputy head of the intelligence agency at this special time.

This is by no means a simple promotion or demonstration of trust, but a strategic alliance and declaration.

The mission Kazimir is about to shoulder—

Infiltrate the Ministry of Military Affairs, get close to Prince Wilson, and take actual control of the Holy Radiance Academy.

Its importance, danger, and the breadth of interests involved have reached a level that is sufficient to affect the future fate of the House of Peers.

Given his position and role, even if Kazimir's loyalty to the House of Nobles is beyond question, the House must still give him the respect and trust commensurate with it.

Including him in the inner circle of the House of Nobles and publicly revealing his position as vice president is a declaration to everyone:

Casimir August was a member of the highest decision-making body of the House of Lords.

His will represents the will of the House of Nobles, and his actions receive the full support and protection of the core power of the entire House of Nobles.

Anyone or any force that targets him will be considered to be declaring war on the entire House of Lords.

After finishing discussing matters related to the Holy Light Academy, Heisenberg quickly moved on to the next agenda item:
"There is another matter that requires your discussion: the replacement of the administrative head of the 'Gentian District'."

Upon hearing this, everyone was taken aback for a moment, and then they all turned their gaze to the figure sitting in the middle of the long table—the current head of administration of the "Constantine District," Viscount Aureliano Buendía.

Heisenberg didn't keep them in suspense, and said with a hint of helplessness:

"Thanks to the outstanding administrative skills and impeccable personal abilities demonstrated by our Viscount Buendía over the years in the 'Chantantine District'."

After deliberation, Her Majesty the Empress and the Cabinet decided to grant the Viscount a higher platform.

The official appointment document has not yet been issued, but His Majesty has already informed me in advance.

Got promoted!
Everyone then realized that at today's meeting, Chief Heisenberg had so solemnly introduced Count Casimir August into the inner circle, publicly revealed his identity as the deputy head of the intelligence agency, and entrusted him with the important task of controlling the Holy Radiance Academy.

Besides the fact that his position was extremely important, it was also because Aureliano, a capable agent of the House of Nobles' intelligence agency and the chief administrator of the Constantine District, was about to step down.

Kazimir was also there to fill the vacancy he had within the intelligence agency.

The vacancy in the intelligence agency was filled by Kazimir, and the crucial position of Special Administrative Region Chief Executive also needed to be filled by a reliable, highly capable, and appropriately qualified successor.

Soon someone spoke up and asked:
"Sir, where will Viscount Buendía be transferred to?"

Manfred Ott, the head of the intelligence agency sitting to Heisenberg's right, spoke up in a deep voice, providing the answer on Heisenberg's behalf:
"The initial suggestion is a local inspector from a certain administrative district."

"Ouch!

Local inspectors?

"Viscount Buendía has made quite a leap forward."

Local inspectors are, in effect, the second-in-command of an administrative division.

Nominally supervising the governor-general, but in reality holding core powers such as personnel appointments and dismissals, financial audits, and military equipment inspections, it is a key position for checking and balancing the governor-general and reaching the central government.

After working for a few years and achieving some results, it would be a natural thing to be transferred back to Kuntandin, appointed as the head of a ministry, or even join the cabinet.

Everyone immediately realized what was happening and cast congratulatory glances at Aureliano Buendía. (End of Chapter)